What Pochettino said after demolishing Man United

For those of you who missed the game and are checking the score on your phone, you’re not dreaming, Tottenham did in fact beat Manchester United, at Old Trafford, three goals to nil.

Spurs haven’t scored a goal away to the Red Devils since Poch’s arrival, yet alone won a game, but tonight seems to be another huge step in the right direction for Tottenham.

After a very sloppy and rocky start to the game, Spurs really grabbed it by the scruff of the neck in the second half, putting United to the sword in the space of two and a half minutes.

Manager Mauricio Pochettino had this to say: “Yes of course. I think the second half was much better. Our performance in the first half, Manchester United were better than us. They didn’t create too many clear chances but I think the belief and our belief and the trust in the way we play together was good.

“In the end the result was fair. Of course the players deserve all the credit and their belief and their faith was fantastic. In a very difficult stadium like Old Trafford against a great team it’s not easy to win.

“Of course our record was so bad in the last four years. After that it was our, or my, fifth year in playing here and to win 3-0 away from home is a fantastic result for us.”

Pochettino spoke before the match about the need for Spurs’ newest recruit, Lucas Moura, to continue to prove himself after a fine display last week against Fulham.

“Yes, many many praise he is going to receive now. But for me I want to say to our chief scout Steve Hitchen and all the people that worked with him, because they advised to sign him.

“When the people sometimes criticise because always it is tough now, I think I need to say well done, because today’s performance from Lucas Moura, for the people that advised and feel responsible too, they need to be praised too.

“That is why I want to congratulate them. There are always people who are working behind and it was a fantastic job because today I think Lucas deserves a lot of credit.”

After Harry Kane’s superb header in the 49th minute, Moura followed up with a fine finish of his own just two and a half minutes later. No contempt with leaving it at two, Moura then dashed through the United defence in the dying minutes to make the score 3-0 to the Lilywhites.

“It’s easy to say now it was fantastic the improvement. Of course that is another example that when the player arrives in the middle of the season it’s not easy to get them to good performances.

“It’s not easy to explain to you or our fans that we need patience and to wait to get the best from our players, after a pre-season and to have the possibility to show their quality. He is showing his quality.

“I am so happy, he’s a great guy and he brought the team different skills, different alternatives and the most important thing is to find a different place to how he was finding in Paris last year. I think it’s to find the best place to help him to perform in the way that we want.”

Tottenham will be hoping that recent improvement away from home against top six rivals will mark a serious title charge for this season.

“I think it’s so important because it puts us in a very important position in the table. Another negative result today and it’s open again – difficult for Tottenham to win away from home against the top six again. This can appear today some big statement to say ‘okay, we are here’ to show that we believe in ourselves.

“Good character. I think in the end only three points but we need to keep calm. In the same way we can be happy because Manchester United is a great team and it’s not easy to play and come here.

“Maybe it’s easy to score but after 1-0 you want to play safe and say ‘okay come on, let’s play safe and finish the game 1-0’. But I think the character and the personality of the team was to trying to find the second and the third.

“I think that is why we fully deserved the result and the players all the credit.”

Where does 3-0 at old Trafford rank in the greatest results you have seen at Tottenham?

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